top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

President takes prompt cognizance

Mumbai: President Droupadi Murmu has taken immediate cognizance of a plea pointing at grave insults to the Indian Tricolour (Tiranga) in pubs and hotels, violations to the Flag Code of India, 2002, in the name of celebrating Republic Day and Independence Day. Pune businessman-cum-activist Prafful Sarda had shot off a complaint to the President on Jan. 26 but was surprised to receive a response from her office in less than 72 hours. Under Secretary Lakshmi Maharabooshanam in the President’s...

President takes prompt cognizance

Mumbai: President Droupadi Murmu has taken immediate cognizance of a plea pointing at grave insults to the Indian Tricolour (Tiranga) in pubs and hotels, violations to the Flag Code of India, 2002, in the name of celebrating Republic Day and Independence Day. Pune businessman-cum-activist Prafful Sarda had shot off a complaint to the President on Jan. 26 but was surprised to receive a response from her office in less than 72 hours. Under Secretary Lakshmi Maharabooshanam in the President’s Secretariat at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replied to Sarda on forwarding his complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary action. It further stated that action taken in the matter must be conveyed directly to Sarda. “It’s a pleasant surprise indeed that the President has taken serious note of the issue of insults to the National Flag at night-clubs, pubs, lounges, sports bars and other places all over the country. The blatant mishandling of the National Flag also violates the specially laid-down provisions of the Flag Code of India,” said Sarda. He pointed out that the Tricolor is a sacred symbol and not a ‘commercial prop’ for entertainment purposes to be used by artists without disregard for the rules. “There are multiple videos, reels or photos available on social media… It's painful to view how the National Flag is being grossly misused, disrespected and even displayed at late nights or early morning hours, flouting the rules,” Sarda said. The more worrisome aspect is that such transgressions are occurring openly, repeatedly and apparently without any apprehensions for the potential consequences. This indicates serious lapses in the enforcement and supervision, but such unchecked abuse could portend dangerous signals that national symbols can be ‘trivialized and traded for profits’. He urged the President to direct the issue of stringent written guidelines with circular to all such private or commercial outlets on mandatory compliance with the Flag Code of India, conduct special awareness drives, surprise checks on such venues and regular inspections to curb the misuse of the Tricolour. Flag Code of India, 2002 Perturbed over the “perceptible lack of awareness” not only among the masses but also governmental agencies with regard to the laws, practices and conventions for displaying the National Flag as per the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the centre had brought out the detailed 25-page Flag Code of India, 2002. The Flag Code of India has minute guidelines on the display of the Tricolour, the happy occasions when it flies high, or the sad times when it is at half-mast, the privileged dignitaries who are entitled to display it on their vehicles, etc. Certain violations attract hefty fines and/or imprisonment till three years.

Youths launch Indian alternative to Insta, FB

Updated: Mar 20, 2025

i-Ai

Dombivli: In an era where mobile applications have become an integral part of daily life, concerns over data privacy and security are on the rise. With global apps like Instagram and Facebook collecting vast amounts of user data and storing it internationally, three young innovators from Dombivli have taken a crucial step to ensure that Indian data remains within the country.


Kapil Agarwal, Omkar Mayekar, and Amey Naik have launched “i-Ai,” a revolutionary social media application designed to rival global platforms while keeping users’ data secure within India. Under their company, Treefe Technology, they have developed this app to provide a secure and indigenous alternative for social media users.


As the world becomes more connected through various social platforms, personal information is increasingly shared globally, often without users’ knowledge. To address this growing concern, these three young entrepreneurs have worked tirelessly for 18 months to create a platform that offers a complete social media experience while ensuring data security.


The i-Ai app combines the best features of popular social media platforms:

Reels and Video Sharing (like Instagram)

Chatting and Messaging Services (similar to WhatsApp)


This unique combination allows users to stay connected through a single app, eliminating the need for multiple platforms. The app has already gained immense popularity among Indian youth, according to Kapil Agarwal.


One of the standout features of i-Ai is that it is completely free. The developers emphasize that the app is designed with the primary goal of securing Indian users’ data and preventing its misuse by foreign entities.


Given the increasing number of cybersecurity threats and data breaches, this initiative has received widespread appreciation from political leaders and social organizations in Thane district. Many dignitaries have recognized and felicitated the young team for their commendable work.

Comments

bottom of page